Improvement in low-water indicators for steam-boilers



c. BROOKE.

Improvement in Lqw-Water Indicators for Steam-Boilers.

No. 130,185, Patented Aug. 6,1872.

- 1% V Win55 gunman WA .J'MWRM I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLEMENT BROOKE, OF NORFOLK, VIRGINIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN LOW-WATER iNDlCATO-RSF OR STEAM-BOILERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent bio-130,185, dated August6, 1872.

Specification describing a Low-Viater Indicator for Steam-Boilers,invented by CLEMENT BROOKE, of Norfolk, in the county of N orfolk andState of Virginia.

My invention is an improvement in the class I of low-water indicatorsfor steam-boilers wherein a ball or weight is employed, the same beingconnected with the lever which controls the operation of the valve ofthe alarm-whistle. My invention consists in the arrangement of parts,particularly of the valve, whereby the pressure of steam acts as acounterpoise for the weight of the ball, lever, 8:0.

The drawing represents, in Figure 1, a see tional elevation of a tubularboiler provided with my improved apparatus. Fig. 2 is a sectionrepresenting the valve and contiguous or connected parts enlarged.

A indicates the shell of the boiler; B, the alarm steam-whistle, and 0its valve. The valve 0. connects with a lever, D, which is pivoted atone end in the pendent rod or bar d, while its free end suspends theball or weight G by means of a chain, E. F F are guiderods. A buoy orfloat is not reliable when the water is in foam, (which is the time ofgreatest danger,) and for this and certain other reasons I employ a ballof greater specific gravity than water, so that it will sink therein, asrepresented in Fig. 1. In order to allow the ball to rise and fall moreor less with the water, as it fills first one end and then the other endof the boiler, in consequence of the pitching or fore-and-aft movementof the vessel, I

employ a chain or flexible connection, E, in preference to a rod, whichis more liable to cause a false alarm to be given under such conditions.But the feature of my invention to which I lay special claim isarranging the valve 0 to seat upwardly, so that the pressure of steamwithin the boiler shall act as a counterpoise for the valve itself andits rod, the lever D, and the chain E and ball G, so far as the last twoare unsupported by the water. Of course care must be taken that the areaof the valve is in no case made sufficient, relatively to the weight ofsaid connected devices, to enable steam pressure to hold it seated whenthe water falls, as against the tendency of these to open it. Thus I amenabled to dispense with any form of mechanical counterpoise arrangedwithin or without the boiler.

I do not claim, broadly, the use of a ball or weight of greater specificgravity than water; nor of a flexible connection between a ballfloat andvalve-lever; nor of cages or other means for preventing lateral movementof a ball-indicator; but

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

The alarm-whistle B, upwardly-seated valve 0, lever D, pivoted at d, thechain E, ball or weight G of greater specific gravity than water, andthe vertical guide-rods F F, all arranged as shown and described,whereby they are adapted to operate as specified.

CLEMENT BROOKE. Witnesses:

SoLoN 0. KEMON, CHAS. A. Pnrrrr.

